Linoleum rack



Feb. 15, 1944.

.1. A. HOLMES 2,341,7 78

LINOLEUMRACK Filed Sept. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l J. A. HOLMES LINOLEUM RACK Feb. 15, 1944.

Filed Sept. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Feb. 15, 1944. .1. A. HOLMES LINOLEUM RACK Filed Sept. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 15, 1944. J? A, MES 2,341,778

LINOLEUM RACK.

Fil ed Sept. 24, 1941 E wa, c7folmea,

INVENIOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITE STATE S P- TEN T O F Fl CE LINOLEUM RACK John Alr'oy Holmes, Modesto, Calif. Application september 24, 1941, Serial No. 412,186

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a rack for holding rolls of linoleum and for rolling, measuring and cuttinga desired length taken from any one of the rolls supported thereby, it being possible to do the work easily and accuratel and also to keep available and-on display at all times a number of rolls of material of diiferen't patterns any one of which can be out without the labor of lifting the entir roll into or out of position.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is simple and compact in construction and will not readily get out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it bein understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a frontelevation of the rack, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, rolls of material thereon being indicated by'broken lines.

Figure .3 is a central longitudinal section through one of the roll-engaging cores, its shaft being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4- Figure 3.

Figure 5 .is a section on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-5, Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a central longitudinal section through portions of a :shaft of the intermediate clamp'thereon.

Figure 8 is a section on 'line'8-'.'8, Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9, Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a section online til-l9, Figure '7. Figure 11 is an elevation of the measuring device and cutter guide, a portion being broken away and parts of the supporting arms being shown in section.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the measuring device and cutter guide, ,a :portion being broken away.

Figure 13 is an edge view of a cuttin tool.

Figure 14 is a side view thereof.

Referring to the figures .by characters of reference, l designates A-shaped standard connected by apluralityof 'spacedrods 2 removably mounted :in :brackets 3-;on1thelegs of the standards and in sockets 4 1211 151516 tops of said standards. Each vof these rods is :in'sertible into roll R of linoleum or like sheet material to be dispensed and itwill be obvious that a number of rolls thus can be displayed simultaneously,

Each leg of each standard has a pair of headed studs 5 projecting therefrom and the pairs at either side of the standards are adapted to be detachably engaged by the slotted base flanges 6 of supporting arms I which thus are held in forwardly projecting positions on the standards. The upper ends of the arms are provided with bearing members 8 extending toward each other from slots 9 in the arms and these members and slots receive the end portions of a tubular shaft lil having an operating crank ID or the like.

Cores H are removably mounted on shaft H1 at points between arms 7 and are keyed thereto as "at l2 so as to rotate therewith. Each core has a head l3 atits outer end and is also provided with spaced eccentric plates or discs 14 rotatable therewith. Each disk is concentric with the core for a portion of its circumference as at 15 while the remainder iii of its margin is eccentrically located and terminates at the inner end of a shoulder ll. A plate !8 of resilient material, such as steel or brass, is extended the length of the core and is fixedly secured to the portions I5 of the plates or disks. One end of theplate I8 is extended beyond the shoulder ll to form a jaw l9 while the remaining portion of the plate is free to flex and is adapted to be contracted toward the eccentric portions it of the disks so as to produce a gap between jaw l9 and the other end 2|] of the plate which extends between the disks and jaw i9 constitutes a movable jaw.

A rock shaft 25 is journaled in the disks i4 and extends through head IS, the outer end of this shaft being provided with suitable means, such as a crank arm 22, whereby it can be actuated. Any suitable means can be used for holding the crank arm against accidental displacement following angular adjustment. For example a portion of the arm can be snappedinto any one of an 'arcuate series of recesses 23 in the head.

Located adjacent to the disks and secured to shaft 25 so as to move therewith, are arms 24 each of which has diverging arcuate links 25 and 26 pivotally connected thereto adapted to slide and rotate in guides '21. Links 25 are pivotally connected to the inner side of movable jaw 20, as shown at 28, while links 26 are pivotally connected at 29 to the flexible portion of plate I8 at points rei loved from the end portion or jaw 20. Thus when shaft 21 is turned in one direction the plate 18 is flexed to thrust jaw 20 toward jaw f9 whereas when the movement is reversed jaw 20 will be pulled away from jaw l9.

Shaft I is preferably made of two sections interfitting at their meeting ends as shown at 30 and one of these sections has a core or sleeve 3| fixed thereto, carrying segmental plates 32 the arcuate margin of each of which is cut away at 33 to provide shoulders 34 and 35. oppositely extending flanges 36 extend from the shoulders 34 and 35 to the core 3| and define opposed recesses 3! at the outer sides of the plates 32 and an intermediate compartment 38. A flexible plate 39 of steel, brass or the like is fastened to flanges 35 at shoulders 34 and bridges recesses 33, its free end being located near shoulder 35 and forming a movable jaw 46. Another plate 4|, constituting a rigid arcuate jaw is secured to flanges 36 at shoulders 35 and is positioned to lap jaw 40.

A coiled spring 42 is located in each recess 31 and thrusts against jaw 40 to thrust it normally toward. jaw M as shown in Figure 9.

A guide tube 43 is centrally located in that section of shaft 55 on which the plates 32 are mounted and one end of this tube is curved laterally as at 45 and is secured to and opens through the wall of the shaft. See Figure '7. The

other end of the tube opens through that end of shaft E8 on which crank 22 is mounted. An actuating member in the form of a spring wire 45 of sufficiently heavy gauge to transmit longitudinal thrust, is slidable in the guide tube. One end projects from the tube at crank l0 and carries a knob 46. The other end of the wire extends into chamber 38 and is attached to the center of movable jaw 40.

One arm 1 has brackets 4-7 in which a stem 48 is mounted to slide and rotate. This stem has a radial arm $9 at its upper end on which is mounted the casing 50 of a device for indicating linear measure. This can be of any desired construction and is of a type operated by a small wheel forming a part thereof. As the measuring device per se constitutes no part of this in- .vention but can be acquired in the open market, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate and describe it in detail. The wheel 5| is positioned to overhang one of the cores I8 and to rest on and frictionally engage any material wrapped about the core. A supplemental casing 52 is fixedly connected to one side of casing 55 and is of the type holding a spring-restrained steel tape adapted to be wound or taken up by a crank 53. In the present case the steel tape 54 has a longitudinal slot 55 one end of which is enlarged as at 5B. A hook 5'! is provided at the free end of the tape and when the tape is pulled from its casing and stretched lengthwise of the rack, hook 57 can be placed in engagement with a keeper 58 on an extension 59 of that arm 1 remote from casing 52.

In practice several rolls of material can be displayed on the respective rods 2. By means of handles 60 on heads It the cores can be adjusted relative to each other so as to be adapted to the width of the material to be cut. Shafts 2| are turned to move the jaws 20 inwardly and wire 45 is shifted to pull jaw 40 away from jaw 4|. While jaw 40 is thus held, the free end of the material M to be cut is drawn from its roll and inserted between jaws 40 and til after which the jaw 40 is released and its springs will shift it so as to cause the material to be clamped tightly between the jaws.

Portions of the end of the sheet material will also enter between jaws l9 and 20 and by turning shafts 2| the jaws will clamp firmly on the material. Stem 48 is then rotated to swing the easing over the sheet material so that the friction wheel 5| will engage it at the gripped end. Tape 54 is unreeled and hooked into keeper 58 and tends to prevent the casing 50 and wheel 5| from swinging out of proper position. Obviously other means could be used for this purpose.

With the parts thus assembled shaft 10 is rotated and winds the engaged material around the shaft and as it is thus wound the material will rotate wheel5l which, in turn, will operate the measuring mechanism. Stem 48 will of course slide upwardly as the diameter of the rolled material increases. When this mechanism indicates the desired length of material has passed the wheel 5|, a cutter is inserted into slot at the enlarged end 56 thereof and is drawn along the slot so as to be guided by the tape. The cutter, as shown in Figures 13 and 14 can consist of a flat shank 6! having a handle 62 at one end'while its other end has a flat head 63 extending laterally beyond superposed blades 64 and 65. These blades are spaced by a material-receiving slot 66 the lower wall of which is in the form of a cutting edge 57 curved inwardly and upwardly. Thus by placing the edge of the sheet material in slot 66 and pulling shank 6| along slot 55 with head 53 beneath and supporting the material, an accurate straight out can be made.

After the operation is completed the jaws are released from the material, shaft I0 is lifted from arms 7, its two parts withdrawn from the rolled section and the shaft then reassembled and replaced.

When desired the arms 1 and the parts carried thereby can be detached and transferred to the studs 5 at the opposite side of the rack.

A rack such as herein described results in a considerable saving of floor space, and eliminates the danger of cracking, breaking and tearing the sheet material while being handled, linoleum being especially liable to crack'when'handled in cold weather. Furthermore there is effected a considerable saving of time required to handle, measure and cut the material, one person being able to do the work which heretofore has'required the services of two persons.

While the rack is especially suited for use in handling linoleum, it is also adaptable for handling other materials such as rug runners, felt padding, window shade fabrics and, in fact, most materials supplied in rolls and sold in selected lengths.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described including a tubular shaft, spaced means rotatabl with the shaft for gripping the end of a sheet of material and supplemental means on the shaft and between said gripping means for gripping said end of the material and comprising a segment, an arcuate rigid J'aw thereon, an arcuate resilient jaw extended between the segment and the rigid jaw, a tubular guide coaxial with the shaft and having a radially disposed end portion, and a flexible jaw-retracting shaft connected at one end to the resilient jaw and extended at its other end from the tubular shaft, said flexible shaft being slidably mounted in the guide. 1

2. A device of the class described including a winding shaft, disks thereon and rotatable therewith, a resilient plate wrapped about the disks and having a shiftable end the disks, the two ends of the plate being in constant overlapping relation and an end fixed to and being normally spaced to receive therebetween one end of sheet material to be rolled, a shaft carried by the disks, separate crank arms between the disks and mov able with the shaft, and separate link connections between each crank arm and the movable end and an intermediate portion respectively oi? the plate, said arm and links cooperating to spread the plate radially and grip inserted sheet material between said ends to hold the gripped portion of the sheet in a position substantially parallel with the plate, or to contract the plate to reduce the diameter of the wrapped sheet and release the gripped sheet.

3. In a device of the class described a means for holding a roll of sheet material, said means including a tubular shaft, spaced means rotatable with the shaft for gripping the end of a sheet of material wound thereon, and supplemental means on the shaft and between said gripping means for gripping said end of the material and holding it substantially concentric with the shaft, said supplemental means comprising a segment, an arcuate rigid jaw thereon, an arcuate resilient jaw extended at all times between th segment and the rigid jaw, a tubular guide coaxial with the shaft and having a radially disposed end portion, and a flexible jaw-retracting shaft connected at one end to the resilient jaw and extended at its other end from the tubular shaft, said flexible shaft being slidably mounted in the guide.

4. A device of the class described including a tubular shaft, spaced means rotatable with the shaft for gripping the end of a sheet of material wound thereon, and supplemental means on the shaft and between said gripping means for gripping said end of the material and comprising a segment, an arcuate rigid jaw thereon, an arcuate resilient jaw extended between the segment and the rigid jaw, a tubular guide coaxial with the shaft and having a radially disposed end portion, a flexible jaw-retracting shaft connected at one end to the resilient jaw and extended at its other end from the tubular shaft, said flexible shaft being slidably mounted in the guide to retract the resilient jaw, and springs interposed between the resilient jaw and the shaft for urging said jaw into gripping position against the pulling action of the flexible shaft.

JOHN ALROY HOLMES. 

